--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the devil be actually among us, then…" description: "\"“If the devil be actually among us, then for the sake of much which has seemed crass in orthodox religion, thus completely exonerated; for the sake of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/arthur-edward-waite-60303_devil_if-the-devil-be-actually-among-us-then-f_2408616.jpg" --- # If the devil be actually among us, then for the sake of… ![“If the devil be actually among us, then for the sake of much which has seemed crass in orthodox religion, thus completely exonerated; for the sake of the fantastic in fiction and the lurid in legend, thus unexpectedly actualised; and, further, as it may be, for the sake of our own souls, we shall…” quote by Arthur Edward Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/arthur-edward-waite-60303_devil_if-the-devil-be-actually-among-us-then-f_2408616.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/arthur-edward-waite-60303_devil_if-the-devil-be-actually-among-us-then-f_2408616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/arthur-edward-waite-60303_devil_if-the-devil-be-actually-among-us-then-f_2408616.jpg) > ““If the devil be actually among us, then for the sake of much which has seemed crass in orthodox religion, thus completely exonerated; for the sake of the fantastic in fiction and the lurid in legend, thus unexpectedly actualised; and, further, as it may be, for the sake of our own souls, we shall do well to know of it. If Abaddon, Apollyon, and the Lord of Flies are to be understood literally; above all, if they are liable to confront us in propria persona between Free Mason’s Hall and Duke Street, or between Duke Street and Avenue Road, then the sooner we can arrange our reconciliation with the one Church which has consistently and invariably taught the one full-grown, virile doctrine of devils, and has the bonâ-fide recipes for knowing, avoiding, and at need of exorcising them, why the better will it be, more especially if we have had previously any leanings towards the conception of an universal order not pivoting on perdition. If,”” [Arthur Edward Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-edward-waite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that acknowledging literal demonic forces can help humanity confront and manage spiritual threats. **In simple terms:** Recognize demons to protect souls. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and confront spiritual dangers. Themes spirituality mythology danger Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - rituals - personal reflection - literary analysis - spiritual practice Key Concepts demonology religious symbolism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What role do demons play in your worldview? - How can confronting fear improve personal growth? A Different Perspective May be metaphorical rather than literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Devils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devils/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [You never walk alone. Even the devil is the lord of flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/you-never-walk-alone-even-the-devil-is-the-lord-of-flies/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) > [“The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries, that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-most-detestable-wickedness-the-most-horrid-cruelties-and-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“This is New York. If people found out worshipping the devil actually worked, every ambitious type A would be practicing it in their studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/this-is-new-york-if-people-found-out-worshipping-the-devil-actually/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [Show business is one of the few businesses that the devil will actually agree to own just a portion of your soul because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/show-business-is-one-of-the-few-businesses-that-the-devil-will/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [The most horrible wickedness and cruelties, and the greatest miseries that have troubled the human race began with this thing called revelation, or revealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-most-horrible-wickedness-and-cruelties-and-the-greatest-miseries/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/devils-soonest-tempt-resembling-spirits-of-light/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If my devils are to leave me, I'm afraid my angels will take flight as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/if-my-devils-are-to-leave-me-i-m-afraid-my-angels-will-take-flight-as/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [More details, more devils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/more-details-more-devils/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They were looking for boys who could speak with an English accent for the movie 'Lord of the Flies.' I had been abroad enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-hammond/they-were-looking-for-boys-who-could-speak-with-an-english-accent-for/) [Nicholas Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-hammond/) > [There are a lot of films that explore sci-fi...What attracted me to the script is the fact that this film stands on its own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/there-are-a-lot-of-films-that-explore-sci-fi-what-attracted-me-to-the/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [When I wrote 'Lord of the Flies' - I had no idea it would even get published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/when-i-wrote-lord-of-the-flies-i-had-no-idea-it-would-even-get/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [I learned that if you're going to be a troublemaker, you don't want a ton of witnesses, because there's inevitable fallout from living like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-learned-that-if-you-re-going-to-be-a-troublemaker-you-don-t-want-a/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [The demon had trouble remembering what she was doing, but she was powerful, sort of the crazy Wendy of the lost lord-of-the-flies boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/the-demon-had-trouble-remembering-what-she-was-doing-but-she-was/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [I first read 'Lord of the Flies' as a teenager. I remember feeling disillusioned afterwards, but not for a second did I think to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-first-read-lord-of-the-flies-as-a-teenager-i-remember-feeling/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## More by Arthur Edward Waite > [“A winged angel, with the sign of the sun upon his forehead and on his breast the square and triangle of the septenary. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-edward-waite/a-winged-angel-with-the-sign-of-the-sun-upon-his-forehead-and-on-his/) [Arthur Edward Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-edward-waite/) > [“For himself he tarried only to witness the initiation of a Mistress-Templar according to the Palladian rite, which took place in a Presbyterian Chapel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-edward-waite/for-himself-he-tarried-only-to-witness-the-initiation-of-a-mistress/) [Arthur Edward Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-edward-waite/) > [“Nor need I dwell at any length upon the personal communication which passed between Doctor Bataille, Albert Pike, Gallatin Mackey, Sophia Walder, Chambers, Webber,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-edward-waite/nor-need-i-dwell-at-any-length-upon-the-personal-communication-which/) [Arthur Edward Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-edward-waite/) > [“To be brief, Miss Vaughan has adopted, body and soul, precisely those abuses which Catholics of intelligence earnestly desire to see expunged from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-edward-waite/to-be-brief-miss-vaughan-has-adopted-body-and-soul-precisely-those/) [Arthur Edward Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-edward-waite/) [Explore all 5 Arthur Edward Waite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-edward-waite/) ## More Devil quotes > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“The devil?” Jason heaved the tick over his shoulder like a collier with his sack. “Satan. The adversary. The enemy of the plan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-devil-jason-heaved-the-tick-over-his-shoulder-like-a-collier-with/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist”—Charles Baudelaire “The second greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever-pulled-was-convincing-the-world-he/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) [Browse all 4,283 Devil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If the devil be actually among us, then for the sake of much which has seemed crass in orthodox religion, thus completely exonerated; for the sake of the fantastic in fiction and the lurid in legend, thus unexpectedly actualised; and, further, as it may be, for the sake of our own souls, we shall do well to know of it. If Abaddon, Apollyon, and the Lord of Flies are to be understood literally; above all, if they are liable to confront us in propria persona between Free Mason’s Hall and Duke Street, or between Duke Street and Avenue Road, then the sooner we can arrange our reconciliation with the one Church which has consistently and invariably taught the one full-grown, virile doctrine of devils, and has the bonâ-fide recipes for knowing, avoiding, and at need of exorcising them, why the better will it be, more especially if we have had previously any leanings towards the conception of an universal order not pivoting on perdition. 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